Imagine it’s the week before Thanksgiving break. You are taking tough classes like AP Calc BC and AP Lang. The possibility looms over you that you might have tests in five or your seven classes. Would you rather have this happen before break or those tests to be given after the break?
The truth is that tests after a long break essentially suck the life from your break since students are forced to study and review. In my experience, this has resulted in stress and sleep deprivation where I spend the weekend studying and cramming for all the major tests I would be facing.
School often feels exhausting because of the never ending stream of tests, quizzes, assignments and projects. After finishing a major task, I feel a sense of accomplishment and relief; however, the next school assignment takes that feeling away immediately, making me feel like I’m stuck in an endless cycle of work. School can sometimes really feel like a Sisyphus simulator, endlessly pushing a boulder up a hill, getting so close to a relaxing weekend, only to be kicked down and burdened with tests, quizzes and essays.
For these reasons, tests should always be before breaks. Breaks, after all, are supposed to allow students like me to unwind and spend more time with the hobbies we enjoy, instead of stuck at the desk with a chemistry book open or a Google Doc essay that we are typing.
A study-free break allows me to actually utilize my break to help reset my management crisis with homework, helping students to prepare for the future.
During the school year, I barely find time to put together a to-do list for myself, and even if I do, the list is lackluster. I end up in a constant loop of procrastination and late-night cramming sessions. This cycle isn’t healthy.
Luckily, having tests before breaks allows me to reset for the next sessions of school, allowing me to build on previous weeks’ experiences and grow in my personal skills. So, teachers, if you have a choice, always pick to give a major test before an extended break. Your students will thank you.
